Experimental Polymer Physics

The polymer physics group conducts
research on optical and electrical properties of macromolecules in relation
to structure. Macromolecules exhibit a wide variety of organizational
structures, including disordered liquid phases, thermotropic liquid crystals,
and true three-dimensional crystals. The liquid-to-solid state phase
transformations in liquid crystalline polymers and polymer melts is
investigated using wide and small angle X-ray scattering.Our research group travels to the Brookhaven
National Laboratory several times a year to conduct scattering experiments
using the high intensityNational Synchrotron Light Source.

In-house research facilities in the
polymer physics group at Tufts include systems for measuring two-dimensional
optical birefringence, electric dipole relaxation and thermally stimulated
depolarization currents, heat capacity and thermal properties. Wide angle
X-ray diffraction and molecular modeling capabilties also exist in the polymer
physics group. One fundamental problem we are studying is the kinetics of
phase transformation in polymers, and the competition between ordering (eg., isotropic-to-nematic-to-crystal) and phase separation
under the influence of external fields. In another project in the
nano-technology area, we are investigating the effects of restricted
dimensionality on the phase transformation kinetics in crystallizable thin
films. The research in this group is interdisciplinary in nature, combining
solid state physics with materials science. Recent students graduating with
the Ph. D. from this research group have been employed at ExxonResearchCenter, MichelinAmericasResearchCenter, Tibco, and Cisco Systems.